Re: 40-year-old Mom needing advice on becoming a pharmacy tech.

[Guest guest]

Just wanted you to know that I think from what you are describing you may need

more than one job.  I don't know how much transcriptionists make, but you got to

stay at home while the kids grew up. Pharm Techs make from min wageto 1.5 min

wage to start, while experienced techs make 1.5 to 3 times min wage with many

years of exp. And this depends much upon which state you are in and their laws. 

So what requirements you will need will depend upon the laws that you find at

your state's board of pharmacy.

 

Also try www.salary.com to check out what Pharm I techs make in your

state.Compare to transcriptionists.

 

So start with what your state requires of you: school, training and or

certification.

 

Some states do not allow online schooling whiles others do. Some require on the

job training (texas) plus certification. Some school only (WA).

 

Some states require certification only and do not care how you studied for it.

 

You do not teast online per se. You test at specific testing sites and on a

computer.

 

Hope this little bit helps. I am sure once you let us know which state you are

in that you will get more information specific to your situation.

 

Respectfully,

Ms Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Founder/Owner

 

 

 

From: kcrecelius@... <kcrecelius@...>

Subject: 40-year-old Mom needing advice on becoming a

pharmacy tech.

Date: Tuesday, January 4, 2011, 9:04 AM

Hi, I am a 40-year-old mom that needs to be making more money.  I have been a

medical transcriptionist for 13 years most of which has been spent working out

of my home office.  The transcription profession is not paying my bills and my

kids need more and more as they get older.  I am interested in learning how to

become a pharmacy tech.  I have applied for 2 pharmacy tech positions in local

drug stores and was told that they would train me and that I did not need to be

certified at the time of being hired....BUT....the people hired for those

positions were certified so my question is.....How do I become a pharmacy tech? 

Do I have to go to school?  Can I just study on my own and take the

certification test?  Can I take the test online?  Should I take an online

course?  Do employers give any consideration of techs who take online courses? 

HOW DO I GET STARTED, MY KIDS NEED SHOES (OK they was really dramatic LOL but I

do need help)?  Thanks so

much for any and all advice!!!!!!!!

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I'm in Chicago and wanted to know the same information for my area. Please

advise. Thanks

From: kcrecelius@... <kcrecelius@...>

Subject: 40-year-old Mom needing advice on becoming a

pharmacy tech.

Date: Tuesday, January 4, 2011, 9:04 AM

Hi, I am a 40-year-old mom that needs to be making more money.  I have been a

medical transcriptionist for 13 years most of which has been spent working out

of my home office.  The transcription profession is not paying my bills and my

kids need more and more as they get older.  I am interested in learning how to

become a pharmacy tech.  I have applied for 2 pharmacy tech positions in local

drug stores and was told that they would train me and that I did not need to be

certified at the time of being hired....BUT....the people hired for those

positions were certified so my question is.....How do I become a pharmacy

tech?  Do I have to go to school?  Can I just study on my own and take the

certification test?  Can I take the test online?  Should I take an online

course?  Do employers give any consideration of techs who take online

courses?  HOW DO I GET STARTED, MY KIDS NEED SHOES (OK they was really dramatic

LOL but I do need help)?  Thanks so

much for any and all advice!!!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Any experienced pharm techs who can help Diandre learn more about what to expect

in Illinois from first hand experience.

Also Diandre please go to www.salary.com to check out salary in your immediate

area using Pharmacy Technician I the lowest end of the $ scale for a newbie.

Your state also has NEW laws regarding techs. Check our your state board of

pharmacy.

The following site will get you started for your state laws but you wil need

indepth study and explanation of your state laws:

http://www.nationaltechexam.org/State-by-state_tech.html

PLEASE be sure to go to your state's actual REAL site state board of pharmacy in

order to READ ALL and know ALL that is required of you.

Once you find your states laws, if you can not interpret them, copy and paste

into a post and I will help you to interpret them.

Also I caution you that the information on the above link or all links for that

matter may or may not be updated to your states newest laws.

What I have authored in 2009 as the update of Tech Reqs and States' Laws for

Techs is now outdated! MORE changes have occured at an exponential rate!!!!! So

much has changed in such a short tiime that it is hard to keep up with the

changes!

This is a good thing as we ARE progressing. But it is also a bad thing as most

of the changes have to do with states requiring registration and certification

and none requiring education.

IF there is a new state that requires education I hope someone will correct me.

I would be so happy to learn of such a state. Just before the end of the year

2010 I read something about a state requiring education for techs, but I can not

find that link and do not know if it became law or is in 'discussion' only.

Most states do require certificaiton, most require PTCB at this time, with some

states adding ExCPT (as I type), and many require registration, some require

fingerprints/Livescan, and a few require education.

You need to check out your state requirements.

Then to pass the exam, Study for the exam/prepare for it,

practice exams, attend a live classroom program if you can and preferably one

with hands on externship.

If no hands on or live classroom, know that the exam will be somewhat based upon

in practice/on the job experience and mostly upon book knowledge.

Federal Law and Math will be the strongest subjects.

Some examples of state law with the Federal Law may be given in questions. If so

chose the most STRINGENT or strict law to apply to that specific state.

Example 1:

State Z Law requires techs to be registered and fingerprinted

Federal Law does not have any tech requirements

Therefore State Z law prevails.

Hope this helps!

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Founder/Owner

>

> From: kcrecelius@... <kcrecelius@...>

> Subject: 40-year-old Mom needing advice on becoming

a pharmacy tech.

>

> Date: Tuesday, January 4, 2011, 9:04 AM

>

> Hi, I am a 40-year-old mom that needs to be making more money.  I have been a

medical transcriptionist for 13 years most of which has been spent working out

of my home office.  The transcription profession is not paying my bills and my

kids need more and more as they get older.  I am interested in learning how to

become a pharmacy tech.  I have applied for 2 pharmacy tech positions in local

drug stores and was told that they would train me and that I did not need to be

certified at the time of being hired....BUT....the people hired for those

positions were certified so my question is.....How do I become a pharmacy

tech?  Do I have to go to school?  Can I just study on my own and take the

certification test?  Can I take the test online?  Should I take an online

course?  Do employers give any consideration of techs who take online

courses?  HOW DO I GET STARTED, MY KIDS NEED SHOES (OK they was really dramatic

LOL but I do need help)?  Thanks so

> much for any and all advice!!!!!!!!

>